Oriental Rug and Area Rug Care

Fine handmade Oriental rugs, even machine-made area rugs, will last a very long time if you care for them properly. Follow these important tips and your beautiful area rugs will add warmth and charm to your home for many, many years. Vacuuming Regular vacuuming of your fine Oriental rug or area rug is one of the best ways to preserve your rug. Surface dirt can filter down into the pile and accumulate causing increased wear. If your vacuum cleaner has a powered beater brush, raise the setting, or use the beater brush only occasionally so as not to cause excessive stress on the wool yarn. Don’t Vacuum the Fringe If you use your vacuum cleaner on the fringe of your Oriental rug or area rug you may be inviting trouble. It is best to use a broom, a dustbuster or a hose attachment to more gently remove loose dirt particles from the fringe area. Rotate Your Rug Turn your rug 180º every year or so to equalize the effects of foot traffic. This is also a good idea if your Oriental rug or area rug has regular exposure to sunlight to prevent noticeable fading in any one area. Use Good Padding A good pad will not only add a sumptuous feel to your fine rug, but it will help prevent wear. A pad will also minimize movement or creeping of your area rug. Spills Clean up spills as soon as they occur. Never use any harsh chemicals on your fine Oriental rug or area rug. Instead, blot up as much of the spill as you can, then use plenty of cold water with a clean sponge and continue to wipe and blot the area until the spill is removed. It’s always a good idea to place some dry towels under your rug while you are cleaning it to prevent damage to the floor below. Use a fan to circulate air to aid in drying the rug. Be sure that the back has dried thoroughly before placing the rug back down on the floor. Potted Plants Never place a live potted plant on your fine Oriental rug or area rug. No matter how careful you are when watering, moisture from the bottom of the pot or saucer can migrate into your carpet causing mildew or prematurely rot the fibers in your rug. Pet Urine As with food spills, pet urine is more easily removed if treated promptly and not allowed to dry. Blot up as much of the urine as possible with paper towels or a clean, dry cloth. Then try to rinse out as much of the remaining urine as you can using a sponge with cold water. If you have a more serious problem, call Zakian for our emergency service for your Oriental rug or area rug. Professional Rug Cleaning Call Zakian to have your rug professionally cleaned every couple of years (more frequently if your rug is in a high traffic area) so that we can thoroughly wash and rinse both sides of your fine rug to restore its beauty and prolong its life. We have special treatments for demothing and deodorizing and we offer Scotchgarding to enable your Oriental rug or area rug to repel dirt and stains.